Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

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Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

The fact that supply chains and logistics companies already have a vast amount of data and processes that could be turned into actionable insights rather quickly, just means that there is potential for AI to take supply chains on a journey from very good to perfect.

Artificial intelligence techniques allow for vast amounts of data to be analyzed, categorized, and then turned into actionable insights with reduced or no human input. As an example,

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Long-Haul Trucking: The First and Best Use Case for Level 5 Self-Driving Vehicles

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Long-Haul Trucking: The First and Best Use Case for Level 5 Self-Driving Vehicles

Transportation has been the source of some of the greatest innovations in human history from the invention of the wheel to automobiles, ships , trains, planes, and rockets. These innovations have profoundly impacted how we move around, how we trade, and how quickly and cost effectively this all happens. Autonomous vehicles may very well be the next great innovation in transportation but the journey will likely be a long one.

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Connecting the Dots on Amazon's patents in Logistics

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Connecting the Dots on Amazon's patents in Logistics

I've dug into Amazon's patent filings over the last five years and mined the patent titles for keywords related to inventory and logistics. Patents range from the mundane like optimization of packaging sizes or allocating regional inventory to reduce out-of-stock costs to the more technologically advanced like autonomous vehicles, mobile ground-based fulfillment centers, and drones. At the far end of the spectrum are topics that appear to be more the realm of sci-fi fantasy like underwater warehouses, airborne warehouses, and beehive-like warehouses, but hey, who knows.

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Logistics Technology Trends That Will Dominate 2017

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Logistics Technology Trends That Will Dominate 2017

Making predictions in technology, even just one year out, are generally an exercise in futility, so this really isn't a forecast for 2017, but more a list of trends that I am interested in and keeping my eye on. Technology is rarely released according to plan and surprises can come from many directions. However, it makes sense to keep tabs on what’s coming and it's also great fun to think about what’s coming next. Here's what I will be looking out for in 2017:

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The Future of Last Mile Deliveries: Mercedes Vision Van makes Logistics Look Cool

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The Future of Last Mile Deliveries: Mercedes Vision Van makes Logistics Look Cool

Mercedes Benz and Matternet, a drone technology start-up, have partnered to create an integrated vision of the future for urban deliveries. Mercedes showcased the concept cargo van at the IAA Commercial vehicle show in Hannover, Germany last week. The future, not all that surprisingly, is an electric vehicle with a range of 270 KMs (168 miles) combined with drones that make package deliveries.

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Uber is a Logistics Platform, Not A Car Service

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Uber is a Logistics Platform, Not A Car Service

Last week Uber announced that they would begin testing self-driving cars in Pittsburgh and that they had acquired Otto, a 90-person start-up that focuses on technology for self-driving trucks. Otto develops sensors and radars that can be quickly outfitted onto existing trucks. Otto’s goal (for now) is for the truck to be fully autonomous on the highways while the driver rests, and the driver takes over for exits and driving in cities. The technology is pretty compelling as...

 

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Tesla’s Master Plan Part Deux and the Future of Line Haul deliveries

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Tesla’s Master Plan Part Deux and the Future of Line Haul deliveries

Genius, Blowhard, Bond-Villain extraordinaire Elon Musk, depending on your point of view, published his Master Plan Part Deux for Tesla. In general the manifesto was in line with the assumed direction of the industry - fully autonomous cars, autonomous commercial vehicles, and the ability for your Tesla to drive other people/cargo around for money while you are not using the car. From a line-haul transportation perspective, self driving cars offer enormous potential...

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